The Braves used the ninth overall pick on AJ Gracia, and the first thing that jumps out is the company he keeps in his own mind. One of the players he has modeled his game after is Cody Bellinger - the same Cody Bellinger who broke Atlanta hearts with a game-winning homer in the seventh inning of Game 7 of the 2020 NLCS. Braves fans may have some complicated feelings there, but if Gracia eventually turns into anything close to Bellinger’s career, Atlanta will have landed a major piece.
Gracia explained in an interview with MLB Network that Bellinger was an easy comparison for him because of the similar body types and the way they set up in the batter’s box. Bellinger’s résumé gives the comparison real weight: 2017 Rookie of the Year, 2019 NL MVP, and 33.8 career bWAR in ten seasons.
The Braves’ first-rounder also said he looks to Juan Soto as another hitter he tries to learn from. That makes sense when you look at the way Gracia handles the strike zone.
He posted a .489 on-base percentage in 2026, and at Virginia last season he walked at a 17.3% clip, even higher than Soto’s 16.6 BB% this season. Gracia’s whole offensive profile is built around not wasting at-bats.
Atlanta is getting a hitter with one of the better graded hit tools in the class, and there’s still room for more power as he fills out his 195-pound frame. College bats were coming off the board quickly Saturday afternoon, and the Braves believe they landed one of the more polished hitters available.
Defensively, Gracia is projected for left field right now because of his defense and arm strength. But the bat is the reason he’s such an intriguing first-round pick. He played at a major Division I program, showed advanced plate discipline, and now enters Atlanta’s system with a chance to move quickly if the hit tool keeps playing the way it has so far.
Gracia said he knew the Braves were in the mix, but he did not know he was going to be the pick until about three minutes before the selection was announced. He also became the first collegiate outfielder Atlanta has taken in the draft since.
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